“’Tis a gift.” Callan narrowed his eyes at her. “You do notbehave as a noblewoman, nor do you speak as one. Are people so different in this North Carolina?”
Why hadn’t she kept her mouth shut? Sometimes things just slipped out, and always at the worst times. “You have no idea,” she muttered.
Before he could ask her any more nosy questions, Lucy pointed, her hand shaking.
There were horses bearing down on them, but when a woman leaned out from behind one of the knights, frantically waving her arms, a weight lifted off Lucy’s shoulders, no matter the woman was too far away for Lucy to make out the words.
Callan tried to push her behind him.
“It’s them!” Relief washed over her like the waves in summer down by the cove.
“Finally. I knew they’d find me.”
Her men, Margery, and … yes, William’s men were all together and alive. Damn Agnes to hell for putting everyone through such upheaval.
The group thundered into the clearing, and just when Lucy thought her heart would fly out of her chest as she frantically scanned each face, William jerked his horse to a stop, shock crossing his grime-streaked face.
Lucy turned to her retinue, needing a moment to gather herself.
“Thomas, are you and the men well?”
“Aye, lady. We have been most worried about you.” Thomas stood, arms crossed as the men dismounted, greeting her.
Before Lucy could answer, he was there, his horse snuffling her hair. William was and would always be her rock, constant and unchanging.
“Are you hurt? Saints, what happened?” William thundered,the welcome sound of his voice going straight to her toes as she collapsed in a heap.
He vaulted from the horse, leaned down, and hauled her to him, lifting her up, crushing her in his embrace. “Bloody hell, woman, we’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
“Now that you’re here, I’m fine. We’ve been searching for you, too.” Lucy couldn’t contain her emotions any longer. With a cry of pure joy, she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. William’s arms enveloped her, holding her close. She could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, matching the rhythm of her own.
“Lucy,” he whispered, his breath warm on her neck, voice choked with emotion. “I’ve missed you, you vexing woman.”
She looked up at him, eyes shimmering with tears of happiness. “And I’ve missed you. More than you know.”
Without another word, he crushed his mouth to hers in front of everyone. The kiss filled with all the longing, love, and passion that had built up during their separation.
As their lips met, time seemed to stand still. The world around them faded away, and all that mattered was the warmth of their bodies pressed together, the taste of each other’s lips, and the feeling of being reunited at last. The kiss was a promise, a vow that no matter the challenges they faced, they would always find their way back to each other.
When they finally pulled away, to the jeers and cheers of the men, William cast a withering glance at his knights.
“Every one of you will face me in the lists when we return to Blackford.”
He ran a finger down her cheek. “I love you. I would have found a way, paid any price, searched for you through a thousand lifetimes,” William said, his voice rough and low, just for her ears.
“I would have spilled every drop of my blood to travel through time until I found you. I love you to the moon and back,” Lucy replied, heart overflowing.
There was no outward sign, but Lucy felt the slight tremble in his hands as he pulled her to him once again.
Tears of joy and relief spilled down her cheeks. The familiar scent of him filling her senses. After so long apart, so much fear and uncertainty, she finally felt safe.
Margery was openly weeping, and a few of the men brushed at their faces as if they had a speck of dust in their eyes, making her smile.
Her lady’s maid flung herself at Lucy. “We thought you were dead, my lady!”
Her lady’s maid turned a scowl on Callan.
“Is this one of the bandits who kidnapped you?”
